Young Artists Competition Highlights PSO Concert

Young Artists Competition Highlights PSO Concert

The Warrenton-based Piedmont Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor and music director Glenn Quader will present its annual Young Artists concert on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. at the Michael A. Hughes Center at Highland School in Warrenton.

The three finalists scheduled to perform were among dozens of area musicians from 11 surrounding counties to enter the competition. Candidates send in their demo CDs and they are judged, and the group is reduced to the best three who will compete in the concert.

Hannah Choi

Diego Quintanar-Pena

Ninghao Zhan

Three judges in attendance will evaluate each performance and they will determine first, second and third place. The winner receives $3,000, runnerup $1,500 and third $1,000. The Phillip A. Hughes Foundation matches the scholarship funds for the concert winners. The PSO also is partially funded by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

There is a student art contest as well. Rules are sent out to elementary, middle school and high school art teachers. They are asked to instruct their students to create a picture that depicts in their mind the theme of the concert which is The Pines of Rome. They are also judged, and the winners receive prize money.

“We are very pleased to have three superbly talented young musicians competing this year,” said PSO board president Ernie Hueter. “It makes a statement as to how music can lend character to a young person’s life and a discipline they will use in their future pursuits.”

The final three concert finalists have varied backgrounds but share the same love for music.

Shortly after returning to the United States from Mexico, Diego QuintanarPena, who now attends Highland, knew he wanted to play an instrument. By first grade, he knew it would be the violin and started lessons in the fourth grade. Diego has been studying with Mathew Gattuso, principal 2nd violinist in the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, for three years.

Hannah Choi is a sophomore at Gainesville High School. She’s been under the tutelage of Dr. Mihyang Joo since 2018 and has won multiple competitions. Hannah is the Gold Star Winner of the Elite International Music Competition along with being awarded a Superior Level in the Golden Key Music Festival. She also achieved second place in Charleston International Music Competition and Rotary Club’s music contest in her school district division.

Ninghao Zhan, a 13-year-old Chinese native, started playing violin when he was five. He attends A. G. Wright Middle School in Stafford County and serves as concertmaster in the school’s advanced orchestra. Additionally, he was placed third chair, second violin section, in the Junior Regional Orchestra this past November.

Details: www.piedmontsymphony.org